Traction w/DP

Traction may be a little better, but watch the oil pan and the transmission when the wheels go down into low dips on the back roads.

Bill

If I was going down a slick muddy road, I would rather be in my 30' gas powered Bounder than my buddy's 40' Country Coach DP! It will have more weight on the drive axles, yet also can sink further into the mud.

Most campgrounds are visited by 35' to 40' trash collection trucks, and they do not get stuck. Most have great gravel interior roads, if they are not paved.

FreeCamprounds.com

Have fun camping!

Fred.

Hope to use Forest Service campgrounds as much as possible, then COE and National Park campgrounds as much as possible. Would rather be in a state park or Federal campground than a private campground but will use Passport America if necessary. Can't see using commercial campgrounds with stuff we don't need. When we get used to using the MH we may use Walmart or others but right now we just need to get used to driving the MH and using its' systems. Any advise is helpful. Thanks.

A gas coach can have as much as 1/3 of the coach hanging out behind the rear axle with might include all the liquid load (gas, fresh and waste water). Last time I had my gas coach weight checked came in at 15.5K Lbs. 10K of that was on the rear. Front to rear weight distribution is going to vary between various models and manufactures but I think overall this might be a draw in the DP/Gasser battle. Also I really, really, really try to avoid getting into situations where I might be concerned about the traction of the drive axle.

Dale.Traveling wrote:
Also I really, really, really try to avoid getting into situations where I might be concerned about the traction of the drive axle.

I second this thought! It is highly unlikely that traction will ever be an issue in the types of places that you mentioned. They all have roads: some are paved, some are gravel, but all are packed by other motorhomes. The only time I have ever thought or consided traction as an issue is when I encountered snow on the Interstate Hwy.

Forget about traction as an issue: buy what floorplan and type of coach that fits your budget and travel, travel, travel.

when in doubt SCOUT it out....take your toad in 1st and determine if clearance or foundation are issues.
Ive seen people get stuck in wet grass when its rained a lot, gas or diesel doesnt matter you're still talking about a lot of weight.

I live 20 mi from Sanford on 42. The advice about the oil pan hitting is very true---the state had a ditch across the road and motioned me through in my DP and when the wheels went down in the ditch my oil pan hit and had to be replaced.....Snow----just don't get out of the tracks--I have twice a long time ago laid a class C on its side in the snow while skiing in WV and MD---twice! Not much damage but got out of the tracks and it just sucked me over into the ditch and laid over on its side. DP has most of the weight on the drive wheels but they aren't made for mud bogging.

Not just the Oil Pan ,but also beware of the bottom of a Side Mounted Radiator! No way would I go Off Pavement around here. even the Gravel Roads used by the Logging Companies have too many Dips and Rocks for safe travel .

I got stuck in a city RV park with grass spots right after a good rain. Had no traction at all. Had to be towed out. My traveling friends got stuck in another RV park in Canada where we were laying up waiting for better weather. He slipped off the edge of the pavement onto a couple inches of snow coveted soft shoulder. He had to be towed out. From those two experiences I'm staying on solid decent roads.

The biggest traction problem in a MH is the straight highway tread on the drivers - that's why they get stuck on wet grass. When you change the rear tires, get a slightly more aggressive tread. If they make any more noise than the normal (almost) slick standard tires, you won't hear it over the DP anyways. And yes, they may get just a few less miles than a normal highway tread, but they'll need changing due to age long before you wear the tread off of them.

I've been on a lot of wet ground and in a couple of inches of snow with mine twice and I sure appreciated them. Did the Continental Divide up at Steamboat Springs in a snow storm this spring. We pulled off when we found a good spot, but didn't have any problems getting to a pull off. Left the MH up on top and took the Jeep down to Steamboat for the afternoon to eat and look around.

Bill